Action Team Training July 26 28 Roles and

Action Team Training July 26/28

Roles and Responsibilities Action Team Member: Conduct “me-search” individual meetings and house meetings. Share stories, ideas, and articles on Civic Commons. Action Team Leader: Internal Responsibility: Coordinate me-search, compile information from action team members. External Responsibility: Represent congregation in research meetings and strategy deliberations. Strategy Team Member: One vote per GCC member Can speak for the congregation Following of 25+ people Thinks about the whole of GCC

Step 1: “Me-Search” What: Individual meetings and house meetings with members of our congregations connected to the issues When: Now Why: To Build Power Build our constituency Learn our expertise Learn our passion

What Makes an Issue Campaign Winnable? Problem Stream: Issue considered to be a problem by those who have the power to act. Political Stream: Those who have the power to act believe that the timing for action is right in relation to public sentiment. Policy Stream: The existence of an implementable policy that fits the scope of the problem.

Step 2: Research What: Meeting with experts, site visits to successful programs, sharing best practices and reports on Civic Commons When: September-October Why: To Craft a Winning Strategy Come up with specific, immediate, concrete proposals Discern what is politically feasible Based on the passion and power we identified in the “me-search”

Step 3: Ratification 1. Action Teams propose specific campaigns to the Strategy Team. 2. Strategy team leads vetting of the proposal through the congregations. 3. Delegate assembly ratifies action plan. 4. Timing: November 2011 - Jan. 2012

Individual Meetings NOT AN INTERVIEW! Keep it relational and two-way Objectives: Learn what they know Tap into passion and commitment Engage their imagination Build your own following Not: selling your own idea

Individual Meetings Sample questions: What made you interested in this issue? What have you learned along the way? What specifically would you change? What have you done to work for change? Next Steps Organize a house meeting Introduce me to other people Post on Civic Commons Stay in touch for future GCC actions Submit report to your team captain

House meetings Facilitator Responsibilities: Set the tone of respectful listening. Make sure everyone has the opportunity to speak, and no one person dominates. Let ideas bubble up organically. Do not push your own agenda. Submit report to Action Team captain. Desired Outcomes: Identify interests, passions, and expertise Bubbling up of interesting ideas that have traction. Not: deciding on a course of action

House meetings Sample question #1: In two minutes or less, describe your connection to this issue and why it is so important to you. Sample question #2: What specifically would you change to make things better?

Next Steps 1. Break out by issue area to practice individual meetings and house meetings 2. Convene at 8: 45 pm to evaluate 3. Action Team Captains meetings on August 16/18 to report on me-search, establish vision, prioritize external research.